7 Most Overpaid Players in MLB

Making it rain is one thing, making it pour is a completely different ball game. While some players are making it rain, these guys make it pour and it’s beginning to cause people to drown. Here’s my list of ball players that are being paid a little too much.

7. C.C. Sabathia: Pitcher, New York Yankees

Contract details: 8 years/$186,000,000, all guaranteed

courtesy Metro.US

Sabathia’s contract goes into 2017 with a vesting option as well as a $5 million buy out. It’s always a tad scary when a pitcher ages. I’m not calling the 33 yearold “old” by any means, but we can all agree when it comes to sports, 30 is the new 40. He is also suffering a knee injury, which will keep him out until next month.

However that injury will not keep him from performing Yankee-like in the future. The only reason he made this list is because of his age and the fact that his recent weight loss probably hurts him as well since his body is adjusting to the dramatic depletion. But, then again, the Yankees can more than afford this.

6. Trevor Cahill: Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks

Contract details: 5 years/$30, 500, 000, all guaranteed

courtesy of Zimbio.com

I tend to get a tad nervous when a young arm gets a huge contract. In 2011 with the Oakland A’s, Trevor Cahill had a 12-14 record. His ERA accumulated to 4.16 with a 1.43 WHIP. He then traded in green and gold for red and black when he went to the Diamondbacks. This season he has a 1-6 record with a 5.13 ERA. Yikes.

5. Albert Pujols: 1B/DH, Los Angeles Angels

Contract details: 10 years/$240,000,000, all guaranteed

courtesy USA TODAY

The story around Pujols has been out there for a while now. In a nutshell: he wanted a lot of money, the Halos gave it to him, he wasn’t performing well, he got hurt, and now he’s showing signs of not being totally terrible. However, he is no Albert Pujols in St. Louis good, but Albert Pujols in Los Angeles really needs to step up to the plate (definitely, pun intended). The 34 year old used to hit above .300 year after year, and now he’s sitting at a pathetic .253. He has some home runs, but he really needs to figure something out.

4.Miguel Montero: Catcher, Arizona Diamondbacks

Contract details: 5 years/$60, 000, 000

courtesy Rant Sports

I realize I have two Diamondbacks on this list, so I may be 86ed out of Arizona in the near future. However, Miguel Montero has yet to have a season where he’s hit over .300. He came close in 2009 with a .294 and has made the All-Star roster once, but he does not have a bat like Paul Goldschmidt or Mark Trumbo, alas, the money should have gone elsewhere. Like towards my shopping addiction.

3. Matt Harrison: Pitcher, Texas Rangers

Contract details: 5 years/$55,000,000, all guaranteed.

courtesy CBS Local

I’m not saying Matt Harrison is the highest-paid baseball player in the world, but I do believe $10 million/year is a bit steep for a guy who has had more than half of his seasons in the Bigs with an ERA over five. He has made the All-Star roster once, but that’s about is as far as his major awards are concerned.

The Rangers obviously have Yu Darvish on their team which makes the team stronger, however Harrison recently suffered nerve irritation which resulted in surgery. He’s out for the season, and possibly his career.

2. Josh Hamilton: Outfielder, Los Angeles Angels

Contract details: 5 years/$125 million, all guaranteed

courtesy LA Times

Josh Hamilton is finally Josh Hamilton-like once again. He left Texas for the Halos, and he was not the same player who once rocked the Texas uniform. In 2013, the 33 year old posted a .250 batting average with 21 home runs. Nowhere near his numbers in 2010 when he hit a .359 with 32 home runs. He’s fresh back from a thumb injury, and seems to be doing fine, but Mike Trout cannot carry that team Hamilton. That amount of money is a joke.

1. Alex Rodriguez: 3B/New York Yankees

Contract details: 10 years/$275,000,000

courtesy iameviltebow.com

Speaking of a “joke,” here’s a hilarious one; Alex Rodriguez. His resume is impressive however. The multi-time All-Star, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger Award winner has a lot to say of his career (that is still going on). Still, this season you haven’t seen much of him have you? Or any of him at all. That’s because he is currently serving a 162 game suspension due to a Biogenisis/PED situation. So while he is sitting on his couch (probably next to a young, gorgeous model) flipping through his Netflix account, he is getting paid. Nothing else to say here.

About the author

Jessica Kleinschmidt

Jessica is a sports writer with an obsession for baseball. You can catch her in the stands or in the media booth. She's the one with the big hair. In addition to Sportsnaut, Jessica has been featured on Bleacher Report, Fox Sports, and MLB Nation.